Decisions

To decide whether a reduced speed limit on Marley Lane, Battle would be appropriate or whether it is a priority for the County Council

13.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

13.2     Mrs Suzanne McAdie, the Lead Petitioner, spoke to request reconsideration of the recommendation.

DECISION

13.3     The Lead Member RESOLVED to inform the petitioners (1) that a 30mph speed limit on this part of the C94 Marley Lane, Battle does not meet the criteria and is not a priority for the County Council; and

(2) that there would be no objection in principle to a community funded 40mph speed limit being investigated.

Reasons

13.4     A 30mph speed limit on Marley Lane is not a priority for the County Council at present due to its relatively good safety record.

13.5     Although there may be no objection in principle to a 40mph speed limit at this location in Marley Lane being considered through the Community Match process, it may not achieve what the petitioners are trying to achieve as the speed survey carried out close to Great Wood Place recorded the existing average speed of the traffic to be 36mph southbound and 37mph northbound with only 19% of the drivers travelling above 40mph.

15.1     The Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services seeking approval to publish statutory notices in respect of a proposal to establish a SEN (Special Educational Needs) facility at Grovelands Community Primary School.

15.2     The Lead Member was informed that due to an issue with accommodation at the school site it was now recommended to delay the publication of the statutory notice until the start of Term 5 in the 2018/19 academic year.

15.3     The Lead Member - RESOLVED to

1)   authorise the publication of a statutory notice in Term 5 with respect to
 a proposal to establish a SEN (Special Educational Needs) facility for up to 8 pupils at Grovelands Community Primary School.

2)   delegate authority to the Director of Children’s Services to amend the proposals prior to their publication if required.

Reason

15.4   The Council has identified a gap in specialist provision in mainstream primary    schools for pupils with a primary need of ASD in the Hailsham area and the Council would like to establish a facility for up to 8 pupils at Grovelands Community Primary School to address this. Delaying publication of the statutory notice will allow for the accommodation issues at the school site to be addressed.

15.5     The majority of respondents to the consultation support the proposal to establish a SEN facility at Grovelands Community Primary School.

16.1     The Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services seeking approval to publish statutory notices in respect of a proposal to establish a SEN (Special Educational Needs) facility at Peacehaven Heights Primary School.

16.2     The Lead Member - RESOLVED to:

1)   authorise the publication of a statutory notice in respect of a proposal to establish a SEN (Special Educational Needs) facility for  8 to 10 junior age pupils at Peacehaven Heights Primary School with effect from 1 January 2019; and

2)   delegate authority to the Director of Children’s Services to amend the proposals prior to their publication if required.

Reason

16.3     The Council has identified a gap in specialist provision in mainstream primary    schools for pupils with a primary need of ASD in the Peacehaven area and the Council would like to establish a facility for 8 to 10 pupils at Peacehaven Heights Primary School to address this.

16.4     The majority of respondents to the consultation support the proposal to establish a SEN facility at Peacehaven Heights Primary School.

To consider the final admission arrangements for 2020/21

14.1     The Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services seeking approval to consult on the on admission arrangements for the 2020/21 school year.

14.2     RESOLVED - to approve consultation on the following proposed admission arrangements for the 2020/21 school year:

1. The proposed admission priorities and community areas;

2. The proposed admissions numbers, including the proposed increase to the

PAN (Published Admission Number) for Willingdon Community School;

3. The proposed co-ordinated admissions schemes with the following

changes:

·         That the primary and secondary scheme be amended slightly to

reflect the assumption that it is in the best interests of summerborn

children to be admitted to reception at compulsory school

age where their parents request it, unless there are clear reasons

why this would be inappropriate, and that own admission

authority schools in East Sussex should be advised of this

assumption and encouraged to adopt it by the County Council;

·       That parents still be required to make a case for this so that it

can be demonstrated that the County Council has considered the

rationale behind the request and made the decision in the child’s

best interests;

·       That the County Council continue to advise all parents whose

request for admission out of year group is agreed of the potential

difficulties this could cause later on, and continue to require

parents to agree that they have understood this and take

responsibility for this decision.

4. That with respect to in-year admissions (for example, families moving into

the area with a child who has already been deferred in another area or

admission authority) that the County Council should work on the same

assumption;

5. That in cases where parents submit in-year applications (or phase transfer

applications for junior or secondary school) for their children to be

educated out of year group where this has not happened before, or where

they have come from provision that does not follow the National

Curriculum (e.g. private provision or overseas) the County Council advise

parents of a likely delay and make a decision in the best interests of the

child in consultation with the Headteacher of the relevant school as in the

case of summer-born children applying at reception entry; and

6. That the County Council adopt the recommendation set out in a letter from

the Rt Hon Nick Gibb MP, Minister of State for School Standards, that the

definition of ‘looked after children and previously looked after children’ in

the glossary of the County Council’s ‘Apply for a school’ guidance be

amended to clarify that ‘this may include children previously in state care

outside of the UK’.

Reason

14.3     The County Council is required by law to carry out consultation on admissions arrangements every seven years or sooner if any changes to those arrangements for the schools where the local authority is the admissions authority.

28.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.

DECISIONS

28.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1) approve the Policy set out at Appendix 1 of the Report;

2) request that officers ensure that the Policy aligns with East Sussex County Council’s (ESCC) Data Protection Policy and any other relevant policies; and

3) note that the future use of drones by ESCC may require additional material to supplement this Policy.

Reasons

28.3     The Policy will ensure the Council complies with its statutory requirements. 

34.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, together with further details of the planned projects and road safety infrastructure work, contained in Appendices 2 to 5 tabled at the meeting.  The additional appendices are contained in the Minute Book.

DECISION

34.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to endorse the latest developments in the East Sussex County Council Road Safety Programme and the plans for the next steps.

Reason

34.3   The work being undertaken in the Programme aims to take a multifaceted and evidence based approach to improving road safety with the aim of reducing KSIs.  As evidence indicates the vast majority of KSIs result from driver carelessness or error, specific measures are required to address these issues.  The Programme will develop a range of behaviour change initiatives to provide targeted interventions to reduce KSIs within the identified priority groups. 

34.4     These behaviour change initiatives will be developed alongside work to improve road safety through targeted infrastructure and speed management schemes.

For the Lead Member to note the breadth of discretionary services available through the Registration Service and consider proposals to:

1) refer customers who are getting married to an approved Will writer, in return for a referral fee (predicated on the fact that marriage annuls all former wills).

2) refer customers to an approved insurance broker to organise Ceremony insurance for them in return for a fee from the insurance broker.

3) hold funeral services and wakes at Southover Grange.

4) offer a fee reduction of up to 25% for non-statutory optional ceremonies if they are booked at the same time as the customer transacting other business with the service.

23.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

DECISIONS

23.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1)    Note the breadth of discretionary services currently being pursued by the Registration Service;

2)    Approve the implementation of a new discretionary service providing funerals and wakes at Southover Grange; and

3)    Delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to discount non-statutory ceremony fees by up to 25%.

REASON

23.3     There is a recent but growing trend for civil funerals to be held in venues other than a crematorium. Once the funeral ceremony has been completed the Funeral Director then accompanies the body to the crematorium and the mourners remain in situ for the wake. The benefit of this arrangement is that the funeral ceremony itself does not need to be rushed as is often the case at crematoria and the guests can stay in the same venue for the funeral and the wake afterwards. Some areas are not well covered by the crematoria available, which involves a lot of travelling for many people, and some family members prefer funerals to take place in more attractive buildings than some of the crematoria that are available. Southover Grange is an ideal venue for offering this new service.

23.4     Discounting  non-statutory ceremony fees by up to 25% if they are booked at the same time as the customer is conducting other business with the Registration Service provides opportunities for customers to, for example, book a non-statutory naming ceremony while in the office to register the birth of a baby.

23.5       The Lead Member thanked staff for helping to develop the number of new discretionary services currently being pursued by the Registration Service. He encouraged staff to continue to come forward with additional ideas and assured them that he would help to promote these ideas where possible.

Responsibility for Regional Growth Fund monies previously administered by Kent County Council

3.1       The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

DECISIONS

3.2       RESOLVED to (1) approve in principle the entering into of a contract between East Sussex County Council and Kent County Council where ESCC will accept the Regional Growth Fund 4 loan repayments made to KCC to redistribute as loans to businesses in Wealden and Rother; and

(2) delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport in consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive to approve the final terms of the contract giving effect to (1) above.

Reasons

3.3       To avoid the loss of funding available the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has agreed that the funds returned to Kent County Council from East Sussex businesses can be transferred to East Sussex County Council to make further awards to businesses in Wealden and Rother.

New 25 year lease

Declaring land at the Causeway, Lewes surplus to County Council requirements

21.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.

DECISIONS

21.2     It was RESOLVED to  - (1) declare the parcel of land known as land off Causeway, Lewes surplus to the County Council’s operational requirements;

(2) declare land under the adopted highway at North Street, Lewes, required for the North Street Quarter regeneration scheme, surplus to requirements subject to formal stopping up procedures; 

(3) delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to secure best value for the land  in accordance with s. 123 of the Local Government Act 1972; and

(4)  note that, in securing best value, the County Council consider wider potential benefits arising from the North Street Quarter development.

Reasons

21.3     Declaring the land parcels surplus to County Council operational requirements enables the County to consider wider investment and economic development opportunities as part of any transfer arrangements.

Annual report to request formal approval to write-off debts over a certain value.

18.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.

DECISIONS

18.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to (1) authorise officer to trigger options to purchase lands east of Battle Road (Reef Way) and land east of Park Road, Hailsham to support the provision of local education; and

(2) authorise the Chief Operating Officer to acquire the sites subject to satisfactory terms.

Reasons

18.3     The Council have a commitment and funds set aside within the approved capital Programme, for the delivery of two new schools in Hailsham.  Site purchases are part of the process that need to be concluded to enable planning, construction and delivery for the scheduled opening of each school.   

18.4     The terms of the option agreements, valuation and negotiation process for the land purchase are subject to specific processes and each negotiation benefits from a dispute resolution process if terms cannot be agreed by mutual agreement.

To consider the petition to save the small separately fenced area at the far end of the Pells School site on Landport, Lewes for continued use as a forest school, the area to be given into the care and ownership of the Landport Community Hub charity, or other suitable arrangements made by agreement with the lead petitioners to achieve the same end, that this tiny percentage of the site be kept for local children to have Forest School opportunities.

17.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.

17.2     Ms Debbie Twitchen, Chair of the Landport Residents’ Association and Trustee of Pippa’s Group, the Lead Petitioner, spoke in support of the petition’s aims.

DECISIONS

17.3     The Lead Member RESOLVED to advise the petitioners that (1) the petition is acknowledged;

(2) the Chief Operating Officer is authorised to continue with the marketing of the site; and

(3) any consideration of the local need for Forest School related activities be considered as part of future planning and development in the local area.

Reasons

17.4     The former Pells School site is currently being marketed by the Diocese of Chichester on behalf of the Diocese and the County Council.   Any development proposals that might arise on the sit e will be required to provide of open space provision, and the potential to include and protect the small parcel of fenced land to support any education offer should be taken into account at the point of considering potential development of the whole site.

7.1       The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Adult Social Care and Health. 

DECISIONS

7.2       The Lead Member RESOLVED to (1) agree in principle to amend the East Sussex Better Together (ESBT) Alliance Agreement for 2018/19 as set out in paragraph 2.1 of the report, and that authority is delegated to the Chief Executive to finalise and agree these amendments, including entering into an ESBT Alliance data sharing agreement with the other partners;

(2) agree to delegate authority to the Chief Executive to make any other amendments to the Alliance Agreement they consider appropriate arising from the governance review, from a review of learning from the first year and to ensure that the Agreement remains fit for purpose going forward; and

(3) agree to extend the ESBT Alliance Agreement for a further year until 31 March 2020. 

Reasons

7.3       The extension to the Alliance Agreement will help provide the stability and consistency needed for our place-based arrangement in the context of the wider Sustainability and Transformation Programme.  Further changes may be necessary as a result of wider system reviews and exploration of possibilities for different approaches to governance, based on our continued learning and the requirements of our integrated system working, and delivering financial recovery going forward as well as our future plans for transformation. 

4.1       The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

DECISION

4.2       The Lead Member RESOLVED to (1) note the final 2017/18 spend for the Local Growth Fund programme and the amount of funds that were re-profiled into the East Sussex County Council Capital Programme, as per Option 4 in the SE LEP Assurance Framework; and

(2) agree the final scheme profiles for the Local Growth Fund programme in the 2018/19 financial year.

Reasons

4.3       £22.68m was spent across 10 projects in 2017/18 against a baseline budget of £25.9m.  We have experienced slippage in four of the projects in the 2017/18 LGF programme and in most cases this slippage is of a short term nature with spend occurring in the early quarters of the 2018/19 financial year.

4.4       To mitigate risk on spend, accelerate delivery and ensure desired outcomes we have put into practice a range of programme management steps to address corrective action with internal and external project partners. This has included embedding ESCC programme management into the individual project structures as well as establishing an internal County Council officer-led LGF Governance Group.

22.1     The Leader and Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Executive.

DECISIONS

22.2     The Leader and Lead Member RESOLVED to (1) agree the delegation of Cabinet responsibilities and functions as set out in the Constitution including in Part 3 Table 1, 2 and 3 attached at Appendices 2 to 4 of the report;

(2)  agree the Officer Scheme of Delegation attached at Appendix 5; and

(3) agree the annual report to the County Council.

Reasons

22.3     Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution requires the Leader to present to the Council at the annual meeting a written record of delegations of executive functions.

Decision on Your County magazine

18.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Assistant Chief Executive. 

DECISION

18.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to authorise the cessation of publication of the Your County magazine after July 2018.

Reasons

18.3     Formal notice of contract termination can be given to the printer and allow the County Council to achieve a saving of £54,000.  There are opportunities to keep residents informed through digital channels.

It has previously been agreed to explore a ‘whole population budget’ arrangement for our whole ESBT health and social care economy to underpin integrated commissioning, through EHS and HR CCGs and ESCC bringing together our commissioning budgets so that we can work within one ESBT financial planning envelope for our c£860million resource.

A Financial Framework Agreement has now been prepared to describe how EHS and HR CCGs and ESCC manage their finances in order to get the most value out of our collective available resource, realising the benefits for the local population of an integrated health and care system. Together, the collective budgets will be known as the Integrated Commissioning Fund, and the Financial Framework Agreement sets out the mechanisms for integrated financial planning and management.

Approval is sought to:
1) agree the draft Financial Framework Agreement; and
2) delegate authority to the Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer to finalise the details of the Financial Framework Agreement alongside the Integrated Commissioning Fund for 2018/19.

19.1     The Leader and Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Adult Social Care and Health.

DECISION

19.2     The Leader and Lead Member RESOLVED to (1) agree in principle the Financial Framework Agreement, proposed scope and content of the East Sussex Better Together (ESBT) Integrated Commissioning Fund (ICF) for 2018/19, and the integrated financial planning arrangements as set out in Appendix 1 of the report; 

(2)        delegate authority to the Chief Executive and the Chief Finance Officer to agree the terms of and enter into the Financial Framework Agreement alongside the ICF for 2018/19; and 

(3)        note the proposed next steps to further strengthen leadership and governance to support integrated health and social care system commissioning in the ESBT footprint in 2018/19, with Eastbourne Hailsham and Seaford Clinical Commissioning Group (EHS CCG) and Hastings and Rother Clinical Commissioning Group (HR CCG).

Reasons

19.3     The draft Financial Framework Agreement will enable an ESBT Integrated Commissioning Fund to be established and operated with EHS and HR CCGs in 2018/19.  Stronger system leadership and governance, supported by the Financial Framework Agreement and Integrated Commissioning Fund, will underpin robust integrated health and social care commissioning. 

19.4     The Financial Framework Agreement and proposed scope and content of the ESBT Integrated Commissioning Fund for 2018/19(subject to the finalisation of the Integrated Commissioning Fund and Integrated Finance and Investment Plan for 2018/19), have been agreed in principle by EHS and HR CCGs’ Governing Bodies at their meeting on 28 March 2018. 

22.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, together with information regarding further work on transport and education provision modelling as a result of a late increase in the housing provision figure by Wealden District Council.

22.2     Mr Chris Elphick and Mr Nick Kersey spoke to raise highway concerns about proposed development in Heathfield.

DECISIONS

22.3     RESOLVED to (1) agree the views on the Local Plan summarised in paragraph 2.1 of the report, and set out more fully in the Appendix as the basis for representations on the Wealden Local Plan Proposed Submission; and

(2) authorise the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to elaborate upon and add to those views as necessary for submission to Wealden District Council. 

Reasons

22.4     The County Council needs to agree the basis for representations being submitted on the Wealden Local Plan Proposed Submission.  The level of growth that is planned will require substantial County Council infrastructure.

22.5     Wealden District Council has increased its allocation by some 3000 new homes, that is to say  from 11,456 to 14,228 which leaves this authority exposed to a significant risk around our Capital Programme.  This is despite many years of close working through the joint “Roadmap” forum.  Previous planning by this authority will need to be re-worked in light of this significant change.

22.6     In order to manage the risks to public services, our own budgets, as well as that of infrastructural failure, the County Council will consider whether and when to request the inclusion of a “Grampian Condition” in permissions which would seek to prevent occupation of new housing until needed infrastructure, particularly around schools and roads, has been put in place.  

21.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, together with written comments in support of the scheme from Councillor Rupert Simmons, the Local Member.

21.2     Ms Pam Lineham and Mr David Rice spoke in support of the objectives of the proposals.

DECISIONS

21.3     RESOLVED to (1) note the objections received to the Notice to introduce vertical traffic calming features (speed cushions and raised tables) along Ghyll Road and Sheepsetting Lane, Heathfield; and

(2) agree that the vertical traffic calming features along Ghyll Road and Sheepsetting Lane, as set out in the Notice, should be taken forward to construction with a modification to the set of speed cushions (reference 06) which shall be repositioned 2.5 metres further north along Ghyll Road.

Reasons

21.4     The result of the 2017 public consultation exercise showed significant support for the proposed traffic calming scheme with 73% of respondents either supporting or strongly supporting the introduction of traffic calming features, speed cushions and raised tables.  The consultation also demonstrated there was support for extending the scheme to include Sheepsetting Lane.

21.5     The repositioning of speed cushions at reference 06 would avoid future conflict with a proposed driveway extension that the resident has approval to implement.  Officers have consulted with the resident who made the objection and the two adjacent properties, and all three have no objection to the repositioned cushions.

25.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.  

DECISION

25.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to (1) note the need for a new Highways Maintenance Depot; and

(2) approve the allocation of £370k from the 2019/20 Capital Structural Maintenance budget to enable the progression and completion of the project.

Reasons

25.3     There is an increasing risk that maintenance services will have to cease in the future if the limitations and shortfalls with the current facilities at Sidley and Cripps Corner depots are not addressed. This would lead to significant increases in revenue costs if operations for the east of the county had to operate from the nearest alternative depot in Heathfield. However, an opportunity to develop a modern and ‘future proofed’ facility at Queensway has been identified to ensure highway maintenance can be delivered effectively in the east of the county long into the future.

25.4     The Council’s Capital Strategic Asset Board confirmed that no additional funding is available and that the additional funding should come from within the existing CET allocations.  The re-allocation of £370k from the 2019/20 Capital Structural Maintenance budget will enable the development of a new depot facility at Queensway to complete the project.